Introduced alongside the firm’s new top-of-the-range OM-D E-M1 model, this new pro-grade standard zoom is the long awaited rival to Panasonic’s constant aperture G X Vario 12-35mm f2.8 ASPH model. Read on to find out how well it performs.

Announced at the same time as the firm’s new flagship OM-D E-M1 model, this new high-grade wide-angle to short-telephoto zoom is the equivalent to a 24-80mm and boasts a constant f2.8 maximum aperture that will appeal to stills photographers and movie-makers alike. As with other high-grade lenses from Olympus, it has a push/pull focus collar with a declutching mechanism to switch quickly between manual- and auto-focus.

Internally, the new lens has a high-speed linear AF motor for fast, near silent autofocusing, a new dust-, drip- and freeze-proof design and a complex optical construction consisting of 14 elements in 8 groups. The optical design sees liberal use of low dispersion and high-refractive index glass types and both single and double sided aspherical elements. Despite the ambitious spec, the lens remains reasonably compact with a 62mm filter thread, measures 84mm in length and weighs just 382g (13.47 oz) in total. The Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO is available for pre-order at $999.

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Olympus 12-40mm lens on different cameras

For almost all Olympus and Panasonic lenses, including this one, DXO consistently measures a significant difference between the sharpness of Olympus E-M1 and E-M5 cameras against the Panasonix GX7. Have these lenses really all been tested on all the cameras listed, or is some sort of algorithm being applied based on sensor measurements or other tests? I ask this because a few days ago there were no tests using the GX7, and now every lens I choose shows as being tested on the GX7, including older ones.